That was the Cavaliers on this wonderful first Friday night in June. This was a team that was down 3-0 in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. It's a team where most of the sporting public was engraving its basketball tombstone.

Cleveland Cavaliers ... former NBA champions.

Not just yet. Final Score: Cavaliers 137, Golden State 116. It was a stunning, record-shattering, heart-pounding performance by Cavalier team that had a message for the Warriors.

"Don't expect us to go quietly into the night," they seemed to be saying.

And with every incredible jump shot...

Every rugged rebound...

Every determined drive...

The Cavs were telling the Warriors, "You can take that champagne back to Oakland ... no celebrating on our court."

For at least a few more days, the Cleveland Cavaliers remain the NBA champions. Good for them. Good for the Cavs refusing to genuflect at the alter of the sweep.

"This is who were are," said Tyronn Lue. "We thought we gave away Game 3. You get down 3-0 and fighting, you do whatever you can to win. We played with purpose."

BUCKING THE ODDS

Before this game, there have been 12 teams that went down 0-3 in The Finals. Eight were swept. But the Cavs came out of the locker room and played a first quarter for the ages -- 49 points. And a first half for the record book -- 86 points.

And they stayed with it, rewarding their fans with a championship effort.

LeBron James had his NBA-record ninth career triple-double in the Finals: 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists. James is the leader of this team. If he looked defeated, the team would have followed. Instead, James came out angry, focused, delivering a sizzling, sweat-soaked statement.

When James was on the court for his 41 minutes, the Cavs outscored the Warriors by 32 points. That's a big reason the championship trophy is still in Cleveland -- at least until Game 5 in Oakland.

Kyrie Irving produced a brilliant performance with 40 points. He put on a display of twisting layups, high floaters off the backboard from outrageous angles that somehow kissed the glass then dropped through the rim. When the Warriors clogged the lane, Irving fired up high arching 3-point shots -- 7-of-12 from long range.

Irving has scored 78 points in the last two games. James has 70 points in the last two games.

UPBEAT MOOD

Lue said he noticed "a good vibe" at the morning shootaround.

"No hanging heads, no one down," he said. "Then we came out and played like who we really are."

Once again, when it seems the season is over for the Cavs, they live to play another game. That's because Irving and James received a lot of help. Kevin Love scored 23 points, 6-of-8 on 3-pointers.

"They were doubling off Kevin and he made them pay," said Lue, meaning the Warriors gave Love the open shots, wanting to stop others.